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bobbie

Bobbie Osborne, Alvechurch Parish Clerk by day, is also a Master of the ancient healing art of Reiki. . .

In 1998, while living on the very small island of Bermuda and desperately trying to find alternative treatments for my sick little dog, I stumbled upon something called Reiki.

The thought of being able to heal creatures with my hands was instantly appealing and on a trip back to the UK I bought as many books on the subject as I could find. However, Reiki cannot be self-taught, so I had to resign myself to waiting until I left the island.

About six months later, at my husband’s company Christmas dinner, I heard a lady mention the word Reiki and my ears pricked up. I discovered she was a Reiki Master and owned a natural healing centre on the island. Within minutes I had booked myself on the first training course and my initiation into the ancient method began.

The course took place over a weekend and I persuaded a work colleague to join me so that I wouldn’t be alone. We and the teacher sat in the shade of the palm trees overlooking a beautiful turquoise-watered creek to begin our journey into gaining the ability to heal people’s problems. What an ideal setting for a life-changing experience!

Reiki is taught in three levels and the healing power increases with each level gained. Level one covers the history of Reiki, the human chakra system, and teaches the student how to provide healing treatments. Feeling the energy leaving the hands during and after the training is something utterly indescribable. Both myself and my friend positively floated away from the training and into the following week at work.

Initially the energy is a little uncontrollable and I was aware that in the middle of meetings my hands would suddenly start to buzz, tingle and feel warm for no apparent reason. I slept better for a week or so after that weekend than I have ever slept in my life.

I practised giving myself Reiki healing each night, and of course also gave some to my little dog, who unfortunately didn’t seem very keen on it. I practised on my husband, who fell asleep almost as soon as I’d started.

Undeterred, I arranged Reiki share sessions with my friend and our teacher. Giving and receiving treatments was so relaxing – I always slept well, and felt a soothing, calming feeling, for days afterwards.

My friend and I were both IT project managers responsible for installing complex and expensive network, cabling and telephone systems; stressful projects with short timescales, small budgets and demanding customers. People at work started to notice how we seemed less stressed and better able to cope with the pressure we were under.

A year passed and I wanted more. Being 3,500 miles away from my parents always worried me when I was reminded of how old they were and how I was unable to help if either of them became ill. Second level Reiki teaches how to send distance Reiki to treat people who aren’t with you, so I was keen to learn this so that I could treat my Mum and Dad when they needed it.

The Reiki II weekend was arranged and my friend and I learnt how to send Reiki to someone in another place, to send it forward in time (brilliant idea – no more difficult meetings with customers!), to use it to make events turn out the way you’d like them (doesn’t seem to work on the Lottery), and even to send it back in time to heal past traumas in our lives. We learnt to “beam” it to each other and, much to my surprise, it was easy to feel it radiating across the room.

More practice and share evenings followed. My little dog, who still didn’t like receiving it directly, was now able to have it beamed to her from the other side of the room. . . she didn’t like that either. Distance healing was the only way I could get her to receive it, and much to my joy this seemed to work wonders and her health started to improve.

The final step in my training was to receive the third level and become a Reiki Master/Teacher. At this level the energy is at its strongest and this final stage can open up all manner of previously hidden spiritual talents. Becoming a Master also enables you to pass on Reiki powers to others and so teach people to heal themselves as well as others. A truly amazing gift to be given.

Following the final training I felt as if all the decisions that had been swimming around in our lives had suddenly rearranged themselves. Priorities were clear, future goals obvious, and events all fitted together easily, so the decision to leave the beautiful hot island that we’d called home for eight years was a surprisingly easy one to make.

Now established back in Alvechurch I continue to treat myself, my friends, and my animals and am building a business by passing on the benefits of this wonderful healing energy to my clients.

Bobbie gives Reiki healing treatments at Hillview Medical Centre in Redditch (daytime) and at Alvechurch Chiropractic Clinic on Friday evenings. For more information or an appointment call 0121 445 5446 or email reiki@aloecentre.co.uk